Daughter of Mennonite missionaries, Rachel Ries hails from the inspiring, vast expanses of South Dakota, by way of Zaire. Her formative years were filled with Congolese spirituals, Mennonite hymns and The Carpenters. Currently splitting her time between rural Vermont and New York City, she crafts sly and compassionate songs for the crooked hearted. With a clear voice and steady hand, she pulls the listener into her world of city grit, country dirt, and her open-eyed search for redemption and reason.

Returning from a years-long hiatus, Rachel is releasing her third long player, Ghost of a Gardener on Feb 18, 2014. Her voice at times echoes that of Regina Spektor or early Maria Muldaur and this new album is full of thoughtful and inventive arrangements. Fingerpicked melodicism pairs with sweeping strings & analog synths while a Merle Haggard-style drinking song struts with trumpets and close knit harmonies. The album, produced by Ries along with Secretly Canadian artist David Vandervelde, also includes Emmett Kelly (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Cairo Gang), Gregory Alan Isakov, Evan Bivins (Cary Ann Hearst, Duncan Sheik), members of Brooklyn’s Cuddle Magic, strings from RSVQ and long-time bandmate Ariel Bolles.

You can pre-order the record now, and obtain a free track!

As a band, Elizabeth and the Catapult has released two full length albums under Verve Records and one self titled EP, which the band produced and released on their own. Over the past 8 months, she has toured in Kishi Bashi’s band, played with the Shins and the Waterboys, made an EP with Richard Swift; and in January, her new album – Like It Never Happened will hit the streets.  Pre-order is coming soon!

Originally released in 1996, Colossal Head continues to represent the most adventurous time in the musical life of Los Lobos.  Leaving their “La Bamba” days behind, the band still holds on to their traditional rock and blues roots with Colossal Head,experimenting with the rhythms and sounds of jazz, funk and lo-fi and seamlessly melding their classic sound with their new influences.  “I think that we are the sole purveyors of what we do,” says the band’s Steve Berlin.  “I don’t think that there is anyone else out there who sounds like us.  I’m very proud of that.”

Yep Roc has put this epic 90’s album on vinyl for the first time – check it out on 180 gram wax at an indie retailer near you now!

The Rock Run Retreat is a band from Pittsburgh.  They enjoy playing music and drinking beer, and trying to get an album out here and there.  Well, they were successful in putting together a new double-LP this year — the Rock Run Retreat self-titled record is hot off the presses – The album was produced in Old Allegheny City, Northside, Pittsburgh PA.  Check it out!

Fountainside is a solo music project. The Debut record Figurehead is finished and available for listening.

Figurehead is a collection of professional grade homemade recordings. The songs were recorded over the course of 10 seasons, with a $0.00 budget. All parts recorded on TASCAM DP-008. It was designed as background music, but can be used in other ways depending on the preferences of the listener.  Check it out.

DANG! Two Hand Fools are back with an all new self titled album!  You can listen to / pre order it here, or at Messy Life Records.

Two Hand Fools is:
Ryan Johns – Guitar and Vocals
Adam Paduch – Drums
Tyler Sickels – Guitar
Sean Clark – Bass
(Adam sings a bit on “Possessions”, and the entire band sings a bit on I Felt Love)